Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to grill 31 more Sonali Bank officials in connection with the alleged siphoning off of BDT 26.38 billion from the Rupashi Bangla Hotel branch of the bank by the Hallmark Group
ACC Secretary Faizur Rahman Chowdhury said this while speaking at a press briefing held at its office in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The anti-graft watchdog also hinted that five top officials of Destiny 2000 Ltd could be taken into police custody following cancellation of their bail by a Dhaka court.
About Hallmark, Mr. Chowdhury said: “It is a major case of swindle of bank fund; apart from the Sonali Bank officials, many others are also involved in this forgery. We need time to scrutinize this large-scale fraud.”
The ACC secretary told the reporters that some of the officials had, in the meanwhile, switched over to other commercial banks. “We have so far interrogated 31 people in connection with the scam and already sent notices to 31 more officials.”
The publication of the Hallmark scam probe would take time as it needs more information to know the details of the fraud correctly, he said.
Responding to a question, Mr. Chowdhury said health adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Modasser Ali will be quizzed relating to the issue, if needed.
Last month, the ACC had summoned Tanvir Mahmud, managing director of the Hallmark Group, his wife Jasmine Islam, also chairman of the Group, and its general manager Tushar Ahmed over the loan scam.
Sonali Bank’s Ruposhi Bangla branch came under the spotlight after the central bank investigators found the branch officials guilty of making available a huge sum to the Hallmark Group in unscrupulous ways.
According to a functional audit report as of May 31 this year, the branch had disbursed loan of over BDT 35.6 billion to the little known Group and five other entities ignoring the existing banking rules.
The state-owned commercial bank has so far suspended 17 of its officials and made two deputy managing directors OSD (officer on special duty) for their alleged links with the scam.
BBN/SSR/AD-13Sept12-1:00 am (BST)
